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Activities of Interest Groups Interest groups attempt to influence policy by supplying public officials with things they want Interest groups attempt to influence policy by supplying public officials with things they want

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Credible Information Includes policy info to allow a legislator to take a position on an issue or technical info needed to implement a policy Includes policy info to allow a legislator to take a position on an issue or technical info needed to implement a policy

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Credible Information Interest group is most powerful when the issue is narrow & technical & there are no competing interest groups to supply competing info Interest group is most powerful when the issue is narrow & technical & there are no competing interest groups to supply competing info

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Credible Information Supplying info may involve political cues Supplying info may involve political cues Allows a public official to line up on the liberal or conservative side of the issue Allows a public official to line up on the liberal or conservative side of the issue

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Public Support Grassroots mobilization is a tactic chosen by an increasing number of interest groups Grassroots mobilization is a tactic chosen by an increasing number of interest groups Environmental interest groups have successfully mobilized support for & against legislators with the “Dirty Dozen” campaign Environmental interest groups have successfully mobilized support for & against legislators with the “Dirty Dozen” campaign

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“Trouble” Tactics such as protest marches, sit-ins, picketing, & violence have always been part of politics Tactics such as protest marches, sit-ins, picketing, & violence have always been part of politics Used by both left & right Used by both left & right

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Purpose of “Trouble” Disrupt the workings of some institutions to force it to negotiate with you Enlist the support of third parties (media) Provoke attacks & arrests are made so that martyrs are created

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Regulating Interest Groups Many policies have been enacted to regulate interest groups Many policies have been enacted to regulate interest groups All must deal with the fact that interest group activity is a form of political speech protected by the First Amendment All must deal with the fact that interest group activity is a form of political speech protected by the First Amendment

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Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 Register with the secretary of the Senate & clerk of the House of Rep. Register with the secretary of the Senate & clerk of the House of Rep. File quarterly financial reports File quarterly financial reports

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Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 Supreme Ct. upheld the law Supreme Ct. upheld the law Limited its impact to groups whose “principal purpose” is to influence legislation Limited its impact to groups whose “principal purpose” is to influence legislation Both the law & Supreme Ct. ruling left significant loopholes for interest groups to exploit Both the law & Supreme Ct. ruling left significant loopholes for interest groups to exploit

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Regulating Interest Groups In 1995 Congress passed tighter regulatory legislation In 1995 Congress passed tighter regulatory legislation New law broadened the definition of lobbyist New law broadened the definition of lobbyist

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Interest Group Regulation: 1995 Law Require more advocates to register with the House & Senate Require more advocates to register with the House & Senate Require lobbyists to require more info about clients Require lobbyists to require more info about clients

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Regulating Interest Groups: 1995 Law Lobbyists must now register if they spend at least 20% of their time lobbying and/or paid $5,000 or more for lobbying in any 6 month period Lobbyists must now register if they spend at least 20% of their time lobbying and/or paid $5,000 or more for lobbying in any 6 month period Corps & groups must register if they spend more than $20,000 in any 6 month period on their lobbying staff Corps & groups must register if they spend more than $20,000 in any 6 month period on their lobbying staff

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1995 Law Lobbyists must submit biannual reports that list: Lobbyists must submit biannual reports that list: Names of their clients Names of their clients Income and expenditures Income and expenditures Issues on which they worked Issues on which they worked

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1995 Law Although the law did not establish a new enforcement agency, violations may be referred to the Justice Dept for investigation Although the law did not establish a new enforcement agency, violations may be referred to the Justice Dept for investigation Fines for breaking the laws could amount to $50,000 Fines for breaking the laws could amount to $50,000

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1995 Law Barred those tax-exempt nonprofit groups currently receiving federal funds from lobbying Barred those tax-exempt nonprofit groups currently receiving federal funds from lobbying Most effective restraints on interest group activity may result from tax code (threatens to revoke group’s tax-exempt status if it engages in lobbying) Most effective restraints on interest group activity may result from tax code (threatens to revoke group’s tax-exempt status if it engages in lobbying)

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1995 Law Spending limits can be circumvented by bundling Spending limits can be circumvented by bundling Bundling occurs when a PAC solicits funds for a candidate & a donor writes the check for the candidate Bundling occurs when a PAC solicits funds for a candidate & a donor writes the check for the candidate All of these checks are delivered as a “bundle” All of these checks are delivered as a “bundle”

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1995 Law Federal campaign records reflect a series of individual donations & the PAC’s role is not evident Federal campaign records reflect a series of individual donations & the PAC’s role is not evident Bundling has become one of the most common PAC practices & has been used with considerable success Bundling has become one of the most common PAC practices & has been used with considerable success

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Regulating Interest Groups Even the best regulations may be ineffective barriers against the power of interest groups & PACs Even the best regulations may be ineffective barriers against the power of interest groups & PACs